How to Fix No Backup Option in iTunes [Top 6 Ways]

How to fix “no backup option in iTunes”? Well, read this post to learn 6 ways to fix “no option to backup iPhone on iTunes” and learn a tip to back up your iPhone easily and quickly.

By @Dylan Last Updated November 15, 2024
 

Why I got no backup option in iTunes?

I would like to backup my iPhone 16. After connecting iPhone to iTunes, the Back Up Now option is greyed out. What should I do?

- Question from Apple Community

In modern life, if you regularly communicate with your business partners via your iPhone, the data on your iPhone is probably even more important. To protect your data, the best solution is to back up your iPhone so you can restore it if something unacceptable happens.

iTunes is the official tool for backing up your device. You can back up most of the data on your iPhone to your PC and restore it if you need to. However, some users have reported the issue of “no backup option in iTunes“. Don't worry. This is a common Apple product issue, just like the one that occurs when you enable iCloud backup. Follow this article to solve the problem easily.

How to Fix No Backup Option in iTunes - 6 Ways

Sometimes you connect your iPhone to iTunes but can't click Back Up Now because it's always grayed out. Why is “iTunes not showing backup option”? There may be a system malfunction or iTunes is currently busy. Scroll down for useful ways to resolve your issue.

#1 Restart iTunes: This is the simplest and also most possibly effective method. Your iTunes might just get stuck or come across a bug, so restarting iTunes would solve the problem. If restarting iTunes is not enough, you might need to try rebooting your computer to refresh the system of your computer.

#2 Check Backup Status: There is two ways to make iTunes backup your iPhone. If you have clicked File > Devices > Back up in the toolbar, and find the button Back Up Now in Summary is greyed out, you don’t have to be confused, because iTunes has started to backup your iPhone. You could check the backup status on the top of iTunes.

#3 Check Syncing Status: iTunes might be automatically syncing iPhone. If you find the button Back Up Now in Summary is greyed out, scroll down the windows and check whether "Automatically sync when this iPhone is connected" has been selected. iTunes might be syncing your iPhone so you couldn’t back up iPhone for now. You could also check the syncing status on the top of iTunes.

#4 Set up as New iPhone: If you connect your iPhone to computer while iTunes just gives you the options to set up as new iPhone or restore from backup. If you see this, select Set up as new iPhone to let iTunes scan and backup your iPhone.

#5 Close Antivirus Software: If you are using other backup software at the same time, iTunes might not be able to backup your iPhone for your iPhone is being backed up or the resource of iPhone is occupied by other software. You should close other software and try iTunes again.

#6 Enter Magic Code: If your iTunes backup now option is not available on Windows, you could use the code to solve your problem. Quit iTunes > press Win + R > type cmd, and press Enter > "%ProgramFiles%\iTunes\iTunes.exe" /setPrefInt DeviceBackupsDisabled 0 and press Enter to execute this command > open iTunes and check if your problem solved.

Bonus Tip: An Easier Way to Back Up Your iPhone

Feeling inconvenient to use iTunes to back up your iPhone? You could back up your iPhone in an easier way. iTunes is not a professional backup application for it was originally designed to manage music and videos. You can tell it from its name.

AOMEI FoneBackup is a free professional application for iPhone backup. As a professional backup application, it allows you to back up your iPhone easily and conveniently.

Easily Backup: There are just features for iPhone backup, and every step would be easily understandable. It could be used to backup photos, videos, music, contacts, and messages. Conveniently Backup: iTunes won’t give you many choices for backup while this application gives you options in every step. You could preview and select files on your iPhone when backing up or restoring. Fully and Selectively backup: Apart from backup all iPhone like iTunes, AOMEI FoneBackup also helps you to select backup iPhone photos, videos, contacts, messages, etc. with "Selective Backup" feature. Widely Compatible: It supports most versions of iOS and would be perfectly compatible with the latest iOS 16. You could use it to backup most Apple products.

Start to easily backup your iPhone for free

When you find the iTunes backup option greyed out, you can try this convenient software immediately. Follow the steps below.

Step 1. Download and launch AOMEI FoneBackup. Connect your iPhone to the computer with a USB cable and remember to tap Trust This Computer on your iPhone.

Download Freeware Win 11/10/8.1/8/7
Secure Download

Step 2. Click "Phone Backup" > Choose "Full Backup" or "Selective Backup" according to your need. Here we choose "Full Backup" to backup all data on iPhone.

Step 3. Now, you can change the backup path and encrypt the backup if you need. Then click "Start Backup".

Conclusion

Backing up your iPhone is a good thing, and the 6 ways in this article can easily solve the problem of “no backup option in iTunes”. If you don't feel comfortable using iTunes, it's time to try AOMEI FoneBackup - an excellent iPhone clone software to back up your iPhone easily and conveniently. Try it out!